Tube City Online Celebrates New Studio

Equipment made possible through state Department of Education grant

By Submitted Report
The Tube City Almanac
September 13, 2024
Posted in: Announcements

Celebrating the construction of a new studio for Tube City Online Radio on Tuesday were McKeesport Mayor Michael Cherepko, McKeesport City Council Member Amber Webb, State Rep. Matt Gergely, State Rep. Nick Pisciotanno, Tube City Community Media Executive Director Jason Togyer, and State Sen. Jim Brewster (Vickie Babyak photo for Tube City Almanac)

Local elected officials and leaders joined volunteers from Tube City Community Media Inc. today to celebrate the opening of a new digital media and podcasting studio inside the former Daily News Building.

The studio — which also includes an extensive music archive as well as a library of books about local journalism, radio and TV broadcasting, and media — is designed to spur interest in media careers for local high school and university students, says Jason Togyer, executive director of Tube City Community Media, which operates the Tube City Almanac website and Tube City Online Radio.

Funding for the studio equipment was provided by a grant from a Pennsylvania Department of Education job training program with assistance from state Sen. James R. Brewster and his staff. Labor to construct the new studio — in a room that was formerly a storage closet — was donated.

Community leaders on-hand for Tuesday’s private event at the Tube City Center for Business & Innovation in Downtown McKeesport included state Sen. James R. Brewster of McKeesport, state Rep. Matt Gergely of McKeesport, state Rep. Nick Pisciottano of West Mifflin, McKeesport Mayor Michael Cherepko, McKeesport City Council Member Amber Webb, and volunteers from Tube City Community Media.

“We started Tube City Online to fill in the gaps in media coverage of the McKeesport area, which we felt was contributing to the negative perception of the region,” said Togyer, a longtime local journalist, author and radio broadcaster, who works for the University of Pittsburgh. “When the McKeesport Daily News closed in 2015, we ramped up our efforts to keep the area from becoming a news desert.”

“What we’re now noticing is that entry-level media jobs no longer exist — there are no longer small radio stations and newspapers where young people can get early career experience reporting news and interviewing people,” Togyer said. “We are trying to create a space where, going forward, people of all ages who are interested in media careers can explore jobs as content creators.”

The new studio, dubbed “Studio B,” will supplement “Studio A,” the existing Tube City Online Radio facility in the Tube City Center.

“Studio A” was built with donated equipment, “some of which is older than I am,” Togyer said. “It’s served us well, but it doesn’t represent current technology and wasn’t appropriate for training young people.”

Tube City Community Media Executive Director Jason Togyer presented State Sen. Jim Brewster with a portable Internet radio as a thank-you for his help. Also shown is Linda Brewster, the senator’s wife. (Vickie Babyak photo for Tube City Almanac)

In the weeks ahead, Togyer said, Tube City Community Media will reach out to educators at McKeesport-area public and private schools to invite them for a visit. The studio will then be available to young people, with supervision, who want to learn how to host a talk-show, music show or podcast, either for Tube City Online or for themselves or their school.

“When I worked at the Daily News, this building was a hub of activity, with many young, eager reporters being mentored by experienced community journalists,” Togyer said. “Working at the Daily News and other small newspapers and radio stations gave me my real education. I’d like to bring just a little bit of that energy back to this building, and thanks to the Pennsylvania Department of Education and the encouragement of Sen. Brewster, I think it’s going to be possible.”

Founded in 2012, Tube City Community Media Inc. is a non-profit corporation. Major donors in 2024 included the G.C. Murphy Co. Foundation, the Flynn Family Foundation, Striffler Family Funeral Homes and Finney Funeral Homes, along with gifts from McKeesport-area community members. Additional support comes from advertising on its websites.

Volunteer board members of Tube City Community Media Inc. are elected annually. Board members for the current year include Ann Belser (chair), Alycia Bencloski, Andrea Luketic Cartwright, Dan Dougherty, Daniel C. Malesky, Jennifer Sopko (secretary), the Rev. Chris Stillwell, Thomas Schroll Jr., Jason Togyer (executive director), Wayne Washowich, Eric Wisniewski, and Mary Beth Wyko.

(Tube City Almanac photos)

Originally published September 13, 2024.

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